Friday, February 16, 2007

Re-Imagineering Celebrates Year One!

Congratulations one and all on the first year anniversary ofRe-Imagineering!

It was one year ago today that a rag tag team of Disney Park aficianados, fueled by the announcement of John Lasseter's new post as Principal Creative Advisor at Imagineering, inspired this online forum for positive change at Imagineering.

Since then an incredible group of professional, talented and informed voices have come onboard from all corners of the Disney Experience to fervently challenge the status quo here at Re-Imagineering.

Thanks to the incredible contributors to this site. Your thoughtful analysis, wisdom and passion has been an inspiration.

Thank you to all the professional colleagues who championed the cause, providing ideas, discourse and encouragement every step of the way. You kept the fires burning.

Thank you to the insightful souls at WDI who continue to care deeply about the company's esteemed legacy. Hang in there.

Thank you to the readers who have offered up perceptive and challenging debate throughout. Ultimately Re-Imagineering owes it all to you. Keep the comments and suggestions coming!

And a final reminder to all those who read and participate. Though it may seem counter-intuitive, we assure you that all of us at Re-Imagineering do what we do because we sincerely care about the Disney parks; places that have informed and influenced each of our lives profoundly.

Congratulations and thanks to all of you. It's been an incredible E-Ticket Year.

It's a really really really great blog you guys have. Super informative and educational. Every post is fascinating full of facts I didn't know about. Thanks for all your work and here's looking forward to more goodness in your next year!!!

Thanks for not pretending nothing was wrong, and for remaining hopeful that things could be fixed.

But most of all, thanks for remaining diligent. There's no such thing as perfection, but it's always laudable to struggle to attain it. "Keep reaching for the moon. Because even if you miss, you'll still land among the stars."

I want to thank Merlin, Mr. Banks, Jiminy and everyone else at re-Imagineering for allowing me to be a part of this great effort, and all the readers for their thoughts and input...especially the force of nature that is digital jedi.

Thanks to everyone posting here. At first, I thought this would just be a snarky, easy-to-point-out-faults but hard-to-come-up-with-solutions type of blog, but at least it was interesting. It didn't take long to realize that you guys are serious, but moreover, right about most things (the other things I just don't know enough about to say).

But as a graphic designer, I'm so glad to see the emphasis being placed on good design - whether architectural, story structure of rides/experiences, signs, even queues, etc. There are some things that I wouldn't have been able to articulate as well without seeing this blog (example: The Swan and Dolphin).

Keep up the good fight, and it feels wrong saying this, but Mickey's arm shall one day be cut down and his hat put someplace more appropriate! And fer god's sake have some fun!

Congrats! Hard to believe that it has already been a year. Thanks for all of you continued insight. I do look at Disneyland Parks a little different now then before. Maybe someday someone will see your ideas and actually make them real!

What you've done here at this site is a great thing and in my mind a important public service.Thank you so much. Never give up the fight!! Long live John Lasseter and all of you brilliant and talented people!!

happy birthday!hahathanks for examining the 'flaws' of the Disney parks in such a critical manner. The imagineers (and the execs who sign the checks) need to have some prodding so they can make the parks the magical and BEAUTIFUL experience they once were.

but when's the post about the bastardization of the polonesian hotel's pool comming? the secret cave/slide is gone forever...

a random reference, but if anyone would get it it thought people here would...

Well, while Disney’s management DOES pay some attention, ARE THEY LISTENING? Sometimes it feels like they are often just taking steps to do damage control instead of truthfully taking suggestions to heart and actually making corrective measures.

Currently, the creative capabilities at Imagineering remain bogged down. Real creative initiatives are being strangled by financial restrictions. This seems counter to many of the other divisions, which appear to get all the financial support they need. Pirates of the Caribbean wouldn’t have been the success it was if the studio had been under the same sort of budgetary constraints.

Corporate management just doesn’t appear to have the same level of support for the various business units. The parks are a major segment of the company’s foundation. Keeping them in top condition and their attractions at the cutting edge of creativity and technology should be at least as important as a movie, cruise ships or “niche parks” and resorts.